Circuit-interrupting device



v a Sheets-Sheet 1. A. WURTS. CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING DEVICE.

Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-S11eet 2. A WURTS CIRCUIT INTERBUPTING DEVICE.

Patented Mar. 1

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. WURTS.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING DEVICE, No. 470,161. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

t l l To all whom it may concern:

1 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER WURTS, OF -PI TTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.-

ClBCUlT-INTERRUPTING DEV-ICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Letters Patent No. 470,161, dated March 1, 1892.

Application filed April 23, 1891. Serial No. 390,108. x (No model.)

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER \VURTS, a citizen of the United States, residingin Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improveinentsiu Circuit-Interrupting Devices, (Case No. 455,) of which the completing a shunt-circuit of high resistance apparatus in operation.

following is a specification.

The invention relates to the construction of apparatus fortbe automatic interruption 0t electric circuits when traversed by currents of abnormal strength;- and the purpose is to prov ide means whereby the resultmay besecured without producing destructive electrical discharges at the points of interruption.

The invention in general terms consists in around the contact-points of the main-circuit interrupter and causing its connections to be severed subsequently. This shunt-circuit is so organized as to prevent the occurrence of destructive electrical discharges.

There are many different ways of carrying the invention into efiect, one of which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in diagram, showing the general organization of the apparatus while in a position of rest, the circuit being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the device.

Referring to the figures, A represents a dynamo electric generator or other suitable source of electric currents, and L L its circuit. The circuit may be employed for supplying any suitable current-consuming appa-; ratus, as indicated diagrammatically at B, for

instance. if for any reason an abnormal current should be caused to or be drawn from the dynamo, it is desirable that its circuit connections should be immediately interrupted, and thus injury to the dynamo averted. For this purpose a circuitdnterruptin'g device is connected in series with one or both of the conductors, as shown in connection with the conductor L fol-instance; This conductor L leads tocontact-plates d at one end of a suitable switch-arm D. Y The other end of this arm is provided with contact-plates (Z and these in turn are connected traverse the circuit with the conductor E, forming a solenoid for a movable core e. The connections are continued from this solenoid to the binding-plate f, from which the circuit is continued conductor L to the work-circuit.

by the The switch-arm D is normally held in the position shown in the drawings, so as to continue the connections between the conductors L and L by means of a suitable latch g, which engages the switch-arm. A spring S normally tends to pull the arm against the latch and. to withdraw the ends from the respective contact-plates d and d and to thus interrupt the circuit connections. \Vhen, therefore, it is desirable to open the circuit, it is simply necessary that the latch g be tripped. This is accomplished by means of the movement of a core e in the coil or solenoid E when that solenoid is traversed by currents of abnormal strength. Since the direct pull of the solenoid upon thecore might, not be sufiicient to disengage the latch if considerable stress is exerted by the spring S,I provide a trip-hammer or weight H for striking the tail g of the latch. This weight His carried upon a pivoted arm h, and a flange e, carriedby the core e, engages the short arm h'of the arm or lever h. Normally the weight H is poised, as

shown in Fig. 1, so as to tend to fall toward the left hand; but a slight thrust upon the arm 71' is suificient to throw the weight to the'ri'ght of its center of suppport, whereupon it falls upon the arm g, as indicated in Fig. 2, and this releases the switch-arm D, interrupting theswitch coiigections d, This interruption of the circuit would necessarily cause large discharge-sparks at the points of interruption unless means. were provided to avoid it. For this reason I provide the shunhcircuit k k around the switch and through the high-resistance electrodes m m. These electrodes are usually of hard carbon.- The electrode m is carried upon the pivoted arm m be stationary, and they are respectively connected with the conductors k and k So long as the switch is in the position shown in Fig. -l the electrodes m or carry little or none of the current; but the moment the circuit is in; terrupted by the movement of the switch D all of the current is forced through these electrodes. The resistance offered by them, howwhile the electrode 'm may at both, plates d and IOO ever, reduces the flow t currentto a considerable extent,- and they are then. immediately caused to separate, thus completely interrupt-- ing the circuit. 'lhemethod of separatingthe electrodes m m which I prefer to employ is as follows: An arm m is secured to the axis \of the arm or lever m, and it is extended into the path of the end of the lever D, so that when the latter yields to the pull ofthe spring [0 S it engages the arm m and'raises the arm .m and its electrode 171', thus separating the electrodes. To still further insure the proper separation of the electrodes m m they may be contained in abox or chambenN, the elec- [5 trode m extending through'a vent 'n. The

expansion of the air within the box due to the heating of the electrodes will tend to cause a sudden rush of air through the vent, thus-forcingthe 'electrodem' outward quickly. This ZOI'HUOU only insures complete separation of the electrodes, but the rush of air through the vent immediately blows out any are which might persist For the purpose of preventing too sudden a movement on the part of the coree a dashpot 6? may be provided in a manner well, understood.v "r I I claim as my inventionof a switch, two sets of contact-plates there- 'for, a mechanical latch or'detent normallyholding said switch in contact with its rel. A circuit-interrupting device consisting spective contact-plates, carbon electrodes constituting ashunt-circuit around said switch, a solenoid in series with'said switch,'a core or armature operated-by said solenoid for releasing the switch upon'being traversed by an 'abnormal current, and means for separating the carbon electrodes after releasing said switch. '2. The combination, with the armD and its respective contact-plates, of the latch normally-holding said arm in engagement with said contact-plates, an'electro-mag'netic trip ping device therefor, the carbon electrodes m m and a shunt-circuit connectingthe same ayo'und thesw'itch,.an d means for separating said carbon electrodes, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have'hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dayof ltlarelu A.

' ALEXA-N DER WUn 'rs. Witnesses:

J. W. Ross,

J AMEs W. SMITH. 

